To introduce you to journalistic writing and principles of good journalism. Upon successful completion of the class you should be able:

1. To apply a news sense to finding stories and sources;
2. To have the ability to write a news story whether for a public relations entity, a marketing entity or a news media outlet for both print and online;
3. To apply social media skills to news writing;
4. To evaluate a news story based on criteria established in class including, but not limited to, news value, readability, grammar, spelling and punctuation;
5. To know and apply Associated Press style to ensure consistency;
6. To possess the ability to conduct an interview and gather information;
7. To make decisions based on ethical, legal, technical and journalistic criteria;
8. To understand basics of covering general news, spot news, meetings and speeches; and
9. To work successfully under deadline pressure.

Tentative Schedule

Week 1 | Lab: Scavenger Hunt

Jan. 15 | Interviewing skills and attribution, meet a new friend; expectations

Jan. 17 | Fact sheet pre-test; fundamentals of reporting, using social media as reporters

Week 2 | Monday lab: No Lab; Wednesday lab: Write classmate profile in lab

Jan. 21 | Martin Luther King Day (no class)

Jan. 22 | Story ideas; the story process; fact sheet in class

Jan. 24 | Media ethics and law, an introduction, FOI

Week 3 | Lab: brief 1 due

Jan. 29 | Lead writing; speech stories

Jan. 31 | AP style

Week 4 | Lab: brief 2 due

Feb. 5 | AP style and leads review

Feb. 7 | The English language, a review of common problems including passive voice

Week 5 | Lab: major story 1 due

Feb. 12 | Alternative story forms

Feb. 14 | Valentine’s Day; business and economics in journalism; math for journalists; review major stories

Week 6 | Lab: brief 3 due

Feb. 18 | Presidents Day

Feb. 19 | Covering sports, the game story (news brief review)

Feb. 21 | ONLINE CLASS: Photo captions

Feb. 22-24 | Association of Texas Photography Instructors convention (Arlington, Texas)

Week 7 | Lab: brief 4 due

Feb. 26 | Covering sports, beyond the game story; photo caption review

Feb. 28 | ONLINE CLASS: Mid-term

Feb. 28-March 3 | Associated Collegiate Press national convention (LaJolla)

Week 8 | Lab: brief 5 due

March 5 | Social media reporting, a review; adding audio to your stories

March 7 | Review of editing: why copy editing matters; writing process review

March 10 | Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m.

Week 9 | Lab: major story 2 due

March 12 | Opinion writing: the editorial page

March 14 | Opinion writing; review major stories

March 17 | St. Patrick’s Day

March 18-22 | Spring break (no class)

Week 10 | Lab: fact sheet in class plus peer editing (story grade)

March 25 | Last day to drop with W

March 26 | Review of interviewing skills, attribution and AP style

March 28 | Why geography matters for reporters; map quiz; fact sheet in class (lead and quote only)

Week 11 | Lab: brief 6 due

April 2 | Photo captions and STD review; embedding video

April 4 | Review

Week 12 | Lab: brief 7 due

April 9 | Covering spot news; working with police, fire, EMS; the crime beat

April 11 | Fact sheet in class plus peer editing

Week 13 | Lab: major story 3 due

April 16 | The First Amendment games (puzzle pieces and leave out one)

April 18-19 | Holiday break (no class)

Week 14 | Lab: brief 8 due

April 23 | Media ethics through case studies

April 25 | Celebration of Scholarship in lieu of formal class

April 25-28 | Journalism Education Association / National Scholastic Press Association national convention (Anaheim)

Week 15 | Lab: brief 9 due

April 30 | Credibility. fact sheet in class; course evaluation

May 2 | Last day of classes; class portfolio of published pieces due

May 5 | Cinco de Mayo

May 7 | Final exam, 8 a.m. (online) (morning class)

May 9 | Final exam, 8 a.m. (online) (afternoon class)

May 10 | Senior documentary presentations

May 11 | Commencement

1. 40% Major stories
2. 30% Weekly news briefs
3. 15% In-class assignments (including participation, attendance, quizzes, other stories)
4. 7.5% Mid-term exam
5. 7.5% Final exam

Notes:

• Unless otherwise indicated, material is due at the beginning of class. Stories are due at the BEGINNING of lab.
• Late work receives a grade of zero.
• Any story submitted with a name misspelled in a final draft receives a grade of zero.
• I will not discuss grades in any fashion via text message or email or any other electronic means. I will not discuss grades on the telephone. You must discuss grades in person during regular office hours.
• KEEP all papers returned to you. If there is a possible error your grading you will need to meet with the instructor and produce all graded materials that might be in error. Grades are maintained in D2L daily. Check them regularly.
• You may not submit a story that has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in any other class unless you obtain my explicit written permission.
• ANY story (and ALL stories) you write for this class should be considered publishable material and may be submitted to local news media, including Campus Watch and The Wichitan, for publication. Hence, in ALL cases you should identify yourself as a reporter for Campus Watch or The Wichitan. Make it clear that your story has a audience broader than just the instructor.
• Initial interviews may NOT be conducted electronically and must be conducted in person or, in a rare instance, by telephone. Reporters may ask follow-up questions via e-mail or social media.
• Avoid all perceived conflicts of interest. You may not write a story for which you could be a source. For example, if you are a football player, you may not write a story on the football team or using other football players/coaches as sources.
• Review and follow the Society for Professional Journalists Code of Ethics available online at http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp.

Students are expected to be in class each and every time the class meets. Students will not be able to make up unannounced quizzes given in classes they miss. E-mail Dr. Wilson prior to the absence as a courtesy. Students are responsible for making up any work missed on their own time, working with classmates.

Students who need to miss class due to University-sponsored events such as field trips or athletics, should see me as far in advance as possible. They will be required to complete the assigned work on or before the due date and will be required to submit an official form from the University before the absence.

Students with excused absences — as determined by the Office of the Dean of Students or other appropriate University departments — may make up major exams on a schedule mutually agreeable with the instructor and the student. Projects and stories with advance deadlines will NOT be accepted late. Plan ahead.

Any student can be dropped from the class after the fourth absence in accordance with University policy.

Unless otherwise indicated, material is due at the beginning of class. Late work receives a grade of zero.

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.